Where the Desert Meets the Sea

Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Setting: Ranch
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
Number of guests: 135
Wedding theme/style: Indian, seaside, elegant, chic.

Kushaal proposed to Anjani at the Ojai Valley Inn in Santa Barbara, California, under the 100-year-old majestic famous Oak Tree surrounded by friends, promising 100 lifetimes with each other. Shortly after, they started to plan their big wedding day in Mexico.

“I was inspired by the beauty and simplicity that Baja California Sur offers, a place where the fresh sea breeze and the cacti meet,” said the bride. “My inspiration behind our wedding was rooted in my dreams of always getting married by the sea, being born and raised in Southern California, a beach girl at heart. And I always wanted to have a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony.”

The festivities began with a Welcome day where Anjani performed a dance for Kushaal, a gesture that brought smiles and cheers from all who witnessed it. “Our first night, Meet and Greet, we asked our guests to wear shades of blue as a reflection of the Pacific blue sea.” said Anjani. “Our concept for the first day was simplicity and not to obstruct the beauty of the natural palette that hotel offers. Florals and candles were chosen to highlight the natural blues of the sea.”

Anjani chose a soft cream metallic lehenga, accompanied by handcrafted in modern-era inspired Kundan gold and green jewels. In the Hindu culture, Kundan jewelry holds a special place in the rich tapestry of Indian bridal traditions, the same as henna painting. “I always knew I wanted my bridal henna to be exquisite as it has always been one of my favorite wedding components as a guest or even for fun. My inspiration for my bridal henna stemmed from my wedding floral patterns, covering my hands, forearms, feet, and ankles. As per Indian mythology, the darker the henna, the deeper the love between two individuals. Without a doubt, the stain for the wedding day was a deep maroon color.” the bride shared.

Kushaal wore a traditional raw silk cream sherwani handmade in Mumbai, India. The groom’s grandfather and mother bought the turban, which was handmade by a 150-year-old establishment in rural Mumbai. The groom’s mother designed his jewelry by using pearls from one of her own traditional Indian necklaces and adding emerald green jewels to it.

The couple both incorporated green color into their attire because, in Indian mythology, emeralds are often associated with new growth and new beginnings.

For their first look, Anjani and Kushaal met at the Nobu Hotel, where their first glimpse was as intimate as it was breathtaking. This quiet moment before the whirlwind of celebrations allowed them to connect deeply.

LA76 Photography captured this exchange with a focus that clearly showed every emotion. Their work throughout the wedding was notable for its vibrant storytelling and keen eye for detail. They uniquely captured the perfect blend of Indian culture with the Baja landscapes. Each photo shows the joy and splendor of the occasion, from the detailed patterns of the bride’s lehenga to the dynamic expressions of the guests during the celebrations.

“We wanted to make our guests experience newness for our Baraat ceremony, cocktail hour, wedding ceremony, and wedding reception. Instead of arriving on a traditional horse or elephant for the Baraat ceremony, where the groom is brought by a parade of friends and family to the wedding ceremony, Kushaal came on a helicopter in the middle of Baja landscapes.” shared the bride.

The procession began in the middle of the Baja desert and ended by the sea, where the mandap was located on the edge of a cliff.

A mandap is a covered structure held by four pillars representing earth, air, water, and fire in the Hindu culture. The couple asked guests to wear metallic or earth tones for a beautiful look against the naturalness of the venue. “Our concept was to keep all views unobstructed intentionally and have our mandap on a cliff to feel the best of both worlds: the desert and sea. We wanted to create a surreal experience for our guests, hoping they would feel the same beauty we experienced there.” said the bride.

The couple, with the help of the planner, utilized chairs and benches for guests during the ceremony to create a unique look. They placed cream-colored hand-made deckled-edge cotton ceremony programs on each seat. Traditional Mexican paletas were passed out during the ceremony to incorporate the Mexican flavor into a unique Indian wedding.

In the Hindu Culture, the bride’s uncles walk her down the aisle. “I was lucky enough to have my grand entrance be 6 minutes long to two special songs!” said Anjani. Her entrance songs were Line of Sight by Odesza, a song dear to her heart, mixed with Its Life by Niraj Chag, the same song her older sister, Yasmin, walked down the aisle with.

“I started my entrance with my two uncles walking down the Baja desert sand along the sea, where we met my father halfway on the man-made wooden bridge. From there, my father walked me to the ceremony site on the cliff and down the aisle—for me, this was my special moment,” the bride shared.

The cocktail hour was located under a beautiful Palapa, an open-air structure created by traditional Mexican palm leaves, right near the sand and ocean. Guests had to walk down a cliff through a wooden bridge along the ocean created by the planner and her team to reach the Palapa, which was decorated in neutral earth tones and a wonderful vibration created by a DJ.

The reception took place on elevated ground, providing a fresh setting that had been entirely redone. Live violin music filled the air, while chandeliers that seemed to dance hung above the dance floor, and fireworks lit up the evening sky, ensuring a festive atmosphere throughout.

The floral designs were brought in from Mexico City, especially for the occasion. The goal was to integrate the natural surroundings into the decor, allowing the venue’s environment to enhance the floral arrangements, creating a harmonious blend of texture and color.

“For the design elements, I wanted a very loose-form floral style accompanied by various textures, both dried and fresh blooming flowers. We wanted neutral earth tones that would not detract from the setting,” said the bride.

For the reception, the bride changed into a metallic silver, feathery, playful saree. “I always knew that for my wedding reception, I wanted to wear something not heavy and more contemporary and light as opposed to a heavy traditional Indian wedding reception lehenga for the sole purpose of letting go and dancing the night away.” she said.

The Groom changed into a contemporary ecru color suit by the luxury Italian designer Canali paired with YSL cream sneakers for a relaxed fit.

The couple had violinists perform a list of their favorite songs as guests entered the wedding reception area. During their first dance, at a specific moment in the song “Next to Me” by Rufus du Sol, fireworks exploded in the night sky to kick off the dancefloor.